I am so exhausted that I just though that my purple tang in the photo above wasn't mine. I was convinced that I didn't have such an awesome fish and that someone had secretly sneaked it into my tank. So yeah, I think its time to go home now.

Catherine your tank is beautiful!!! I sense I am going to have a serious clam addiction in the future. I think I love almost as much as you do...

Yes! Another one to the dark side!

There is something very wrong with my gigas clam. It started on Sunday, and now the problem is much worse. On Sunday the clam had grown to the point that its shell was touching the glass. Just before it was moved you could see on its right side that the mantle had actually come away from the shell on the inside. Its almost like pieces of the shell attached to the mantle flaked off leaving the mantle free from the rest oft he shell.

The clam isn't gaping per say but it is lopsided. Yesterday it wasn't extending its mantle as it has been in the past. I'm not sure what is happening because this is undoubtably nothing like anything I've seen before. I will post a photo or two of this tonight when I get home.

Alright so some cool things about the clam

1) the problem isn't getting worse, I just though it was
2) The mantle still retracts and responds to light.
3) My clam is too big to close its shell anymore and has been for at least 3 years.

So close up
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0037-1.jpg

side shot
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0038-3.jpg

mantle retracted
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0040-3.jpg

mantle extended
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...DSC_0042-2.jpg

I am in a rush, but as soon as I get to Edmonton I am going to to post this up on Clams Direct as well.

That just doesn't look right, but hard to see the inlet siphon on how stretched it is. I would try loosely tying it up to a more natural opening for awhile. Maybe a weak adductor muscle? I did this on a Crocea a few years back and it made a recovery. Just a thought :)

You can try posting on reefaquariumforum.com which use to be clams direct forum. There should be someone there familiar with what is going on with your clam.


Chris

Its up on RAF.com, and reef central, but I'm still waiting for responses.

I wish I could get you a better photo, but its not actually stretched, its just limp. I had to move the clam (after this started) and its in an area of a little less flow.

Aside from the one gaping hole on that one side, it looks reasonably fine.

Hmmm, good luck! Maybe it's an injury? If you don't mind, please post the links to the threads on raf.com and rc.com, I'd like to follow them to see what gets recommended.

I've heard good things about the suggestion to tie them closed or not-as-open. Apparently the weight of the shells can pull the clams open, but if they need to heal then they need to have the weight of the shells taken off them and that's where the tieing them comes in. I guess even if closed all the way it's not like they suffocate because the shells don't create a perfect seal anyhow. Or so I've heard anyhow - haven't tried this myself.